Top Compensation and Benefits Executive jobs in Tacoma, WA

At a glance

Are you a strong problem solver with vast HR experience and a desire to lead a new team? Located in a vibrant port city in the PNW, Puget Sound is a leading national liberal arts and sciences university preparing students for success since 1888. The University of Puget Sound is recruiting a Benefits and Compensation Manager to join their team in Tacoma, WA. This role will be working a hybrid schedule, up to 2 days working remotely. This position has direct responsibility for administering a comprehensive staff compensation program, a benefits program for faculty and staff, and the university payroll. You will be the subject matter expert on compensation and lead a collaborative and supportive team that is mission-driven. You will also work across all campus partners and have significant exposure to senior leadership. In addition, the University offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. If this role piques your interest, learn more and apply today!

Description: What you'll be doing

Another Source’s client, University of Puget Sound, is recruiting a Benefits and Compensation Manager to join their team in Tacoma, Washington. This role will be working a hybrid schedule, up to 2 days working remotely.  

Internally Titled: Director of Compensation and Benefits 

Here’s a little about University of Puget Sound and the position they are recruiting for:  

Located in a vibrant port city in the Pacific Northwest, Puget Sound is a leading national liberal arts and sciences university preparing students for success since 1888. In an ever-evolving world, we believe that the best preparation for the future is an education that exposes you to multiple perspectives, engages you in work that makes a difference in the world, and helps you discover who you are and what you have to offer. It’s an education that transcends boundaries, teaches you to adapt to changing circumstances, and prepare for careers that might not yet exist. 

Learn more about the University of Puget Sound here:  

https://www.pugetsound.edu/about-puget-sound-0  

To learn more about Greater, We Ascend Campaign, please visit: https://www.pugetsound.edu/greater-we-ascend  

The anticipated annual base salary range for this position is $120,000- $130,000. 

About the Role: 

The position has direct responsibility for administering a comprehensive staff compensation program, benefits program for faculty and staff, and the university payroll. Integrates rewards of work to attract and retain talent in the most cost effective and efficient manner possible, providing analytical, policy and support services university-wide. Responsibilities for this role include: 

Developing and communicating staff compensation programs:  

• Consults with Human Resources and department managers to make salary recommendations for staff positions and/or divisions.   
• Researches, establishes and utilizes compensation methods and sources (e.g., professional organizations, websites) to ensure effective and cost-efficient compensation programs.  
• Plans and implements a strategic communication plan for the staff compensation program; communicates compensation program practices, policies and procedures to individual contributors and leaders.  

• Familiarity with Washington state compensation regulations and ability to make effective recommendations to ensure compliance.   
• Conducts job analyses for staff positions and effectively makes recommendations to managers and Human Resources on salary, job level, FLSA classification, and cost impact to the university.   
• Assists individual contributors and leaders in writing job descriptions.  
• Oversees the university’s participation in salary and benefits surveys conducted by other organizations (e.g. CUPA-HR, Milliman).   
• Prepares summary reports of survey data, including reports for the Compensation Committee of the Board of Trustees.     

 Developing and communicating faculty and staff benefits programs:  

• Oversees the management, design, and annual renewal of all health and welfare benefits including the university’s medical, dental, vision, voluntary life and AD&D coverages, disability, and flexible spending account benefits.   
• Responsible for the administration of the university’s retirement account plan. This includes ensuring compliance, offering educational opportunities for participants, and understanding and recommending best practices.   
• Oversees the management of the university’s relationship with benefits consultants, vendors of benefits plans, legal and actuarial consultants, record-keepers, etc.    
• Directs or oversees (and ensures the quality of) benefits proposals, negotiations with insurance carriers, and administration of contracts or other agreements involving employee benefits.       
• Ensures that development and implementation of benefits programs, policies and practices are in compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.    
• Conducts periodic audits of benefits policies and procedures, plan documents, and summary plan descriptions.  Updates or creates documents as needed.        
• Manage faculty and staff leave of absence programs and ensure compliance with internal university policies and applicable federal and state regulations.  
• Responsible for the administration of the workplace accommodations for faculty and staff.   
• Collaborates with Finance and third party benefits brokers to model and propose the university’s annual benefits budget and identify any variances that occur throughout the year.   

Payroll:  

• Supervises and works in partnership with the payroll team to ensure timely and accurate processing of semi-monthly payroll, quarterly and annual state and federal reporting, and compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations.  

 Consulting:  

• Provides direction to individuals and groups within and outside of HR who are engaged in initiating, establishing, and maintaining compensation and benefits programs. 
• Assists individual contributors in developing their understanding of the university’s compensation and benefits programs and objectives.   
• Works with the HR team to assess data, analyze trends, and identify methods for continuously improving human resources management at the university.  

 Ensuring organizational effectiveness:  

• Participates in development, implementation and maintenance of policies, objectives, short-and long-range plans; develops and implements programs to accomplish established goals.   
• Leads and provides direction to other HR staff, to include work allocation, training, problem resolution, etc.    

Budget Responsibilities:  

• Collaborates with colleagues in the Office of Finance to develop the university’s benefits budget and prepares benefits budget recommendations for the Budget Task Force.    

What we would like to see from you: 

• Bachelor’s degree and five (5) years’ increasingly responsible, related experience; undergraduate or graduate course work in human resources management, industrial psychology, statistics, or related field desirable  
• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) certification preferred   
• Relational database experience; PeopleSoft experience preferred  
• Superior interpersonal skills, both one-on-one and in small and large groups    
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel   
• Ability to work effectively with a broad range of constituents: staff, faculty, students, and the general public    
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional publications and governmental regulations    

• Ability to write business correspondence, including policy and procedures    
• Ability to supervise and train staff, including organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments   
• Ability to negotiate and manage contractual arrangements   
• Knowledge of compensation and benefits-related laws, regulations, principles, methods, and techniques   
• Knowledge of budgeting, cost estimating, and fiscal management principles and procedures    

What’s in it for you:   

University of Puget Sound offers a comprehensive compensation and benefit package.  

Learn more about their benefits: https://www.pugetsound.edu/sites/default/files/file/final_summary-of-2020-benefits-for-exempt-staff_ju_0.pdf 

University Diversity Statement: 

We Acknowledge  

The richness of commonalities and differences we share as a University community; the intrinsic worth of all who work and study here; and that education is enhanced by investigation of and reflection upon multiple perspectives.  

We Aspire  

To create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community; to increase the diversity of all parts of our University community through commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts; and to foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community.  

We Act  

To achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity; to ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here; and to prepare effectively citizen-leaders for a pluralistic world. 

Another Source works with their clients, on a retained project basis.  We are committed to building inclusive candidate pools as we partner with hiring teams. Veterans, women, people of color, LGBTQIA , and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. As you read through the job posting and review the list of qualifications (required and/or preferred), please do not self-select out if you feel you do not meet every qualification. No one is 100% qualified. We encourage you to apply and share your story with us.  

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